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As a landlord, you’re probably kept pretty busy dealing with repairs, difficult tenants and property purchases so you don’t need to deal with problem letting agents too. If you pay a letting agent to look after your property, then they should be working in your interests.
One of the biggest concerns for most landlords is that they will not be able to fill their property with paying tenants every month. Guaranteed rent services can be an attractive option, especially for those who have had difficulty letting their properties in the past, or who have had to deal with non-payers. But can they really be cost-effective, or are they more likely to cost landlords money than to help them?
It is standard for rental contracts to not allow tenants to have pets. It is obvious why: pets have claws which can damage furniture and decor, they have fur that can be almost impossible to clean away, and they can cause a nuisance to neighbours.
Most tenants understand why landlords are generally reluctant to take pets, but that does not mean that they are always willing to give up their furry friends when they move into a new rented property.
Some landlords go into the business believing that the only cost they really need to worry about is their mortgage. They soon learn the truth: that the mortgage is just one of many costs they will have to meet as a landlord.
The UK property rental market is one of the country’s biggest. Many of us will spend most of the wealth accumulated in our life time on either a mortgage, rent or home improvements of some kind. This is however proving to be a lucrative market for scammers and con-men who are using fake identities to coax landlords into providing them with housing.
When you think of empty homes, you immediately think of problems regarding squatters and others trespassing on your property. Whilst certain landlords insurance policies may cover these eventualities, you may not always be fully protected , especially from the social repercussions which are generated by partially vacant neighbourhoods.
Figures from homeless charity Crisis released last year showed a 70% rise in evictions over three years. That is a startling figure, although it would be wrong to think that landlords are the bad guys. Rents have increased, but so have mortgage and other buy-to-let costs. There are also wider forces at play: an increase in unemployment, static wages, higher living costs and benefit cuts have all taken their toll.
Buying Abroad – Many of us dream of owning a property outside of the UK after having had a taste of life abroad. Whether it’s a family trip to the Algarve or a romantic holiday in Dubrovnik, the thought of having an abode outside the rainy British Isles is quite appealing. It is easy though, for sentimentality to get in the way of a good purchase. Sentimentality can add value which would otherwise be absent in the market in question, something which is often exploited.
If you’re looking to get your perfect house, and you think you’ve found the one, how do you get it for the best price possible? The current housing market is somewhat unpredictable, but as it gets better and house prices start to rise again, negotiating the right price for a property becomes harder. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your money.
Utilities being cut off – It’s a phenomenon that many of us will have considered, but few have actually had this happen to them. Many months of unpaid bills; letters from water companies, then suddenly a call from your tenants saying they have no water. Having your water cut off can be more than just a nuisance. What can you do to rectify the situation where tenants are not paying their bills?